Deborah, Barak and Jael

After Ehud died, the people of Israel again did what was evil in Yahweh’s sight. So Yahweh gave them into the power of Jabin, king of Canaan, who ruled in Hazor. Sisera commanded Jabin’s army. He had nine hundred iron chariots, and Israel was harshly oppressed for twenty years. Then the people cried out to Yahweh for help.

At that time Deborah was judging Israel. She was a prophetess, and the people came to her for judgment. Deborah sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali. She told him that Yahweh had commanded him to gather ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. Yahweh would draw Sisera, his chariots, and his army to the river Kishon and give Barak victory.

Barak said he would go only if Deborah went with him. She agreed, but told him that the honour of the journey would not be his, because Yahweh would give Sisera into the hand of a woman. Barak gathered Zebulun and Naphtali at Kedesh, and ten thousand men followed him. Deborah went with him. Then Sisera was told that Barak had gone up to Mount Tabor.

Sisera gathered all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all his troops to the river Kishon. Deborah told Barak that this was the day Yahweh had gone out before him. Barak went down from Mount Tabor with his ten thousand men. Yahweh threw Sisera, his chariots, and his army into confusion before Barak. Sisera climbed down from his chariot and fled on foot, while Barak chased the army until none were left.

Sisera fled to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was peace between Jabin and Heber’s household. Jael welcomed him in and covered him. He asked for water, but she gave him milk and covered him again. After he fell into a deep sleep, Jael took a tent peg and a hammer and killed him. When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael showed him the body. That day God subdued Jabin before Israel, and Israel kept growing stronger until Jabin was destroyed.